SC MOVED AGAINST IPL SHIFT

The Mumbai Cricket Association and the Maharashtra Cricket Association moved the Supreme Court on Friday against the Bombay high court's verdict shifting Indian Premier League matches out of the state.

The Special Leave Petition, jointly filed by the two cricket associations before a two judge bench, urged the court to allow the original schedule to be retained.

The bench has listed the matter for hearing on April 25. In their plea, filed by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, the two cricket associations said

that they will not use potable water to prepare pitches and for ground maintenance, but will use treated sewage water instead. The Bombay high court's decision will affect 13 matches, including two IPL play-offs and the final. The Board of Control for Cricket in India and the Mumbai and Pune franchises have argued that moving the matches out of Maharashtra will affect their brand value and is also unfair to their home fans. Meanwhile, the IPL matches scheduled in Kanpur also seem to be heading for trouble as an NGO has filed a petition seeking cancellation of two encounters at Greenpark Stadium citing lack of water. Greenpark is scheduled to host two matches of local boy Suresh Raina-led Gujarat Lions against Kolkata Knight Riders on May 19, and Mumbai Indians on May 21. Anita Dua of NGO Lakshya said she had filed a petition stating that the city witnesses confrontation over water every day. "If IPL matches are allowed in the city, hundreds of litres of water would be required to prepare the pitches.This is a criminal waste in times of water scarcity.’’ Which is wrong. So we've requested the matches not be allowed keeping in mind the problem," Dua said. Hearing on the petition will take place on April 25. PTI